Baseball instructional flash cards

ABSTRACT

Flash cards for teaching and learning the defensive game of baseball. Each flash card has an offensive situation presented on the front side ( 1 ), identifying; a basic baseball field layout ( 4 ), the basic starting location of the nine defensive players ( 2 ), the direction of travel and final location of the baseball ( 3 ) following contact by the batter, how the baseball was hit by the batter ( 5 ), graphically whether or not runners are on base prior to the start of the offensive situation ( 6 ), alphanumerically what bases are occupied by runners and whether or not a potential run being scored is critical prior to the start of the offensive situation ( 7 ), and a representation of the number of outs prior to the start of the offensive situation ( 8 ). The backside of the card ( 9 ) presents the recommended actions for the defensive players given the situation presented on the front side ( 1 ), identifying; the basic baseball field layout ( 10 ), the direction of travel and final location of the baseball ( 11 ) following contact by the batter, how the baseball was hit by the batter ( 12 ), the movement of the nine defensive players following the batters contact with the baseball ( 13 ), alpha-numerically what bases were occupied by runners and whether or not a potential run being scored is critical prior to the start of the offensive situation ( 14 ), the number of outs prior to the start of the offensive situation ( 15 ), the movement of the baseball thrown by the defensive player that fielded the baseball hit by the batter ( 19 ), graphically the expected position of runners following the actions by the defensive players ( 16 ), the number of runs expected to score following completion of the defensive actions ( 17 ), and key points highlighting defensive actions ( 18 ). An introduction card ( 20 ) identifies the purpose and objective of the instructional flash cards. A definitions card ( 21 ) identifies the definition of the images and alphanumeric characters presented on the instructional flash cards.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to flash cards, specifically flash cards used for teaching and learning the defensive game of baseball.

2. Discussion of Background Art

A common instructional aid for teaching and learning educational material and games is the flash card. A flash card is usually a rectangular card, sized so it can be held in a user's hand. A question or situation is printed on one side of the card. The answer to the question, or the action to be taken in the situation, is printed on the other side. Many cards are gathered together in a stack or deck, with all the sides on which the questions or situations are printed facing up. The user views each one, first looking at the question or situation side and then flipping it over to look at the answer or action side. The cards can be arranged in sequential or random order.

Flash cards are commonly used in elementary schools for teaching arithmetic. An arithmetical question is printed on the front, for example, “2+2=?” On the back is printed the answer, in this example, “4”. Flash cards have also been created for teaching games, such as blackjack. There has been no discovery of flash cards being used for teaching and learning the defensive or offensive team actions associated with a given defensive or offensive team situation for team sport activities (i.e., baseball, football, basketball, lacrosse, etc.).

While there are a multitude of sports instructional books and videos targeted at teaching offensive and defensive actions associated with various offensive and defensive situations, they are deficient in providing a comprehensive set of situations and actions in the popular flash card format.

BRIIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the front and back, respectively, of a flash card for teaching and learning the defensive game of baseball.

FIG. 3 shows the informational card describing the purpose and objectives of said flash cards.

FIG. 4 defines the images and alphanumeric characters presented on said flash cards.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

A typical embodiment of the present invention is a flash card illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flash card shown is one of a deck of flash cards intended for teaching and learning the defensive game of baseball.

The front of the flash card 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, portrays a starting defensive situation and an offensive situation/action that could occur while playing the game of baseball. The front of the card has three main sections. The first section located in the center of the card is a graphical representation of a baseball field 4 including the basic starting locations of the nine defensive players 2 as they appear prior at the start of the offensive action; a representation graphically 6 identifying which bases are occupied by the offensive team, and the specific offensive action as depicted by the direction of travel and final location of the baseball 3 following contact by the batter. The second section, in the upper right hand corner of the card, identifies alphanumerically which bases are occupied and whether or not a potential run is critical 7, along with a representation of the number of outs prior to the start of the offensive action 8. Finally, the third section in the upper left hand corner of the card graphically represents how the baseball was hit 5 by the batter.

The back of the flash card 9, as illustrated in FIG. 2, portrays the defensive actions that are appropriate in response to the offensive situation identified on the front of the card. The back of the card has five main sections. Identical to the front, the first section is located in the center of the card and contains the same graphical representation of a baseball field 10; the basic starting locations of the nine defensive players 22 as they appear prior to the start of the offensive action; a representation graphically identifying which bases are occupied by the offensive team 16; and the specific offensive action as depicted by the direction of travel and final location of the baseball 11 following contact by the batter. The first section also includes the appropriate movement of the defensive players 13 following the batters contact with the baseball along with the movement of the baseball 19 thrown by the defensive player that fielded the baseball hit by the batter. The second section, in the upper right hand corner of the card, identifies alphanumerically which bases are occupied and whether or not a potential run is critical 14, along with a representation of the number of outs prior to the start of the offensive action 15. The third section in the upper left hand corner of the card graphically represents how the baseball was hit 12 by the batter. Section four, located at the bottom of the card just to the right of the of the baseball field representation identifies the number of runs expected to score 17 following completion of the defensive actions. Finally, the fifth section is located to the far right of the card and oriented ninety degrees counterclockwise in relationship to sections one through four and includes key points 18 associated with the defensive actions.

To use each flash card, the user reviews the front of the card that depicts an offensive scenario in the game of baseball. After reviewing the front of the card the user attempts to determine the defensive action to be taken by one or all of the defensive players. Once the user determines the action to be taken, the user should then study the back of the card to review the defensive player actions most appropriate for the given offensive situation, along with a list of key points. Using this process for each of the several hundred cards, each with a unique offensive situation/action enables learning of the defensive game of baseball.

An introduction card, as illustrated in FIG. 3 identifies the purpose and objective of the instructional flash cards 20.

A definitions card, as illustrated in FIG. 4 identifies the definition of the images and alphanumeric characters presented on the instructional flash cards 21.

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are as follows:

-   -   (a) to provide a method of pictorial representation of baseball         offensive situations and defensive actions on flash cards which         will facilitate and expedite the comprehension of playing the         game of baseball, and     -   (b) to provide a method of pictorial representation of baseball         offensive situations and defensive actions on flash cards which         will present a more effective approach to teaching and learning         the game of baseball than provided by the current art. 

1. A flash card for teaching a defensive action of an athletic team in response to an offensive situation of an opposing athletic team, having front and back sides comprising: a. a representation of an offensive situation/action on the front side of said flash card, and b. a recommended defensive action for the situation on the back of said flash card.
 2. The flash card of claim 1 wherein baseball is represented, comprising: a. a representation of an offensive situation printed on the front of said flash card, comprising: (i) an image representing a potential baseball offensive scenario, and (ii) the image representing how a baseball was hit by the batter, and (iii) an alpha-numeric representation of what bases are occupied by runners and whether or not a potential run being scored is critical prior to the offensive situation, and (iv) the image representing the number of outs prior to the start of the offensive situation. b. a recommended defensive action for the offensive situation, printed on the back of said flash card, comprising: (i) an image representing recommended defensive actions and offensive results, and (ii) the image representing how the baseball was hit by the batter, and (iii) an alpha-numeric representation of what bases were occupied by runners and whether or not a potential run being scored is critical prior to the offensive situation, and (iv) the image representing the number of outs prior to the offensive situation, and (v) the image representing the movement of defensive player in response to the offensive scenario, and (vi) the image representing the movement of the baseball thrown by a defensive player that fielded the baseball hit by the batter, and (vii) the image representing the optional movement of the baseball thrown by the defensive player that fielded the baseball hit by the batter, and (viii) the image representing the secondary movement of the defensive player in response to the offensive scenario.
 3. A deck of the flash cards of claim 1 providing a multitude of offensive situations and recommended defensive actions. 